PRINCETON, NJ--(Marketwired - Nov 25, 2014) - Zagster , a company that provides bike sharing services, has launched a bike sharing program available to anyone who lives, works or studies at Princeton University, as well as members of the public who live and work in Princeton. The program will start with a total of 10 bikes located at the new Princeton Station and they will be available for rental by the hour or the day.
"This is a great first step in a broader campus and community-wide bike initiative," said Timothy Ericson, co-founder and CEO of Zagster. "With great new transit connectivity via rail and bus, and with students on campus who prefer two wheels to four, the Zagster program will enable sustainable, healthy and convenient transportation options for all."
The new Princeton Station on Alexander Street includes an enclosed waiting area, as well as a new Wawa (with restrooms inside), Kiss-and-Run drop-off, short-term parking, long-term commuter permit and meter parking, and a bus stop serving NJ Transit bus routes, Princeton's FreeB and the University's Tiger Transit.
Riders, who must be at least 18 years old, can access the bikes by creating a Zagster account via the Zagster Mobile App, (available for iPhone and Android), or online at http://www.zagster.com/princeton . Riders will pay a $20 annual fee that allows unlimited bike rentals for up to two hours for free, with additional hours costing $2 per hour up to $20 for a maximum 24-hour rental.
To rent a bike, riders simply login to their account, enter the unique ID number of the bike they wish to use and the app provides an access code for the lock box mounted on the back of the bike. Riders can use the code throughout the duration of their rental to lock and unlock the bike anywhere along their trip. Once the bike is returned to the Zagster location at Princeton Station, the touch of a button ends the rental and releases the bike for the next rider.
Zagster features the Breezer Uptown, an award-winning bike known for its lightweight, yet durable construction, specifically designed for city riding. All bikes come with spacious baskets perfect for groceries, take out, or goodies from the many merchants in Princeton. With an attached flexible lock, riders can park their bikes wherever they want, allowing the ultimate in convenience.
"The addition of Zagster to our transportation options will help us make progress in meeting the University's sustainability goal of 500 fewer vehicles on campus by 2020," said Kim Jackson, director of Transportation & Parking Services at Princeton University. "When people have options like Zagster, it makes it easier to leave a car at home, which reduces congestion, pollution and emissions on and around campus. We're pleased to offer the bike rental program and we hope to expand bike sharing to the entire community in the future."
Zagster is developing a national footprint of bike sharing programs in partnership with real estate/multi-family companies, businesses, hotel chains and universities, all of whom are looking to provide value added services and benefits to residents, guests or area employees.
Currently, Zagster has hundreds of bikes deployed in more than 30 cities/towns in more than 20 states with thousands of members having taken tens of thousands of rides. Zagster has partnered with leading brands, including General Motors, Hyatt, Related Companies, Novare Group, Quicken Loans, Yale University, Duke University and many others.
About Zagster Founded in Philadelphia in 2007 as CityRyde and now headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Zagster is one of the nation's first bike sharing companies. Zagster is uniquely focused on contracting with property managers, hotels, businesses, and universities across North America to make bike sharing programs available to tenants, employees, guests and students. This highly efficient and unique model allows Zagster to offer services in areas that traditional city-wide bike sharing systems can't reach. More information about Zagster is available online at http://www.Zagster.com .
Media contact John Williams Scoville PR for Zagster 206-625-0075 jwilliams@scovillepr.com
